Individual Placement - Outdoor Education Ranger

Student Conservation Association•Moab, UT

13h•Onsite

About The Position

This position involves working with the Arches National Park Education Department, a partnership between the National Park Service and the Grand County, UT school district. The Education program takes Kindergarten through 8th grade students from local public schools into the National Parks in their communities for hands-on, place-based field trips tied to the Utah science and social studies core standards. Our staff teach both in area schools and the outdoor classrooms of Arches National Park and the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park. Our home base is an office in Arches National Park in Moab, UT. Although the Bilingual Outdoor Education Ranger will provide education to all students, they will particularly assist the education team to improve the educational experience within the National Parks for the Spanish-speaking student community. To create deeper connections between Spanish-speaking students and their public lands, the Education Ranger will assist with translation and teaching in Spanish during field programs. The Bilingual Outdoor Education Ranger will also be involved in strengthening relationships in the local community. They will participate in community events, representing the National Park Service, and can develop and organize events brining community groups into the park. This is a great position for applicants with career interests in place-based learning, classroom teaching, outdoor/environmental education, and community outreach.

Requirements

An intermediate level of Spanish language fluency (written and spoken preferred; spoken more important)
A desire to work with elementary school students and explore careers with the National Park Service
Curiosity about making science learning culturally relevant, multilingual, and meaningful for students through facilitating connections to their surrounding landscapes in Spanish and and English
Cultural humility and openness to multiple ways of thinking about nature and the environment
Attention to growing as an educator and receiving feedback on teaching and teaching materials
A collaborative approach to work and the ability to manage projects independently
A state-issued Driver’s License and be at least eighteen years of age
A personal vehicle
All participants must be between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger.
Participants must also be a citizen or national of the United States or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with youth.

Responsibilities

Teach standards-based lessons from the education team’s curriculum in English and Spanish (as needed), manage students for safety in the outdoors, act as a language buddy for Spanish-speaking students, assist with pre- and post-field trip classroom visits
Occasionally present and develop extracurricular programming for area youth which may include junior ranger programs, after school clubs, or community events
Prepare and plan for instruction in English and Spanish, support education program logistics, safely drive a government vehicle, and complete projects to maintain program quality
Participate in activities to develop education skills including program debriefs, training sessions for best practices in environmental education, informal peer observation, video self-evaluations, and formal coaching sessions
With support, help translate educational materials, props, key terms, parent letters, and evaluations for field trips into Spanish.
Contribute feedback to program to ensure its continued success
Assist the National Park Service interpretation team in the Arches Visitor Center